NIGHT
3: VISUALS – 2018 Oscar Blog/Podcast
March 2,
2018
·
Coco
- Lee Unkrich, Darla K. Anderson
·
Ferdinand
- Carlos Saldanha
·
Loving
Vincent - Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman, Ivan Mactaggart
·
The Boss
Baby - Tom McGrath, Ramsey Ann Naito
·
The
Breadwinner - Nora Twomey, Anthony Leo
Who I’d vote for: Coco – Admittedly, I
haven’t seen some of these but I don’t think it would matter one bit. I did
think there weren’t enough musical numbers (perhaps Moana spoiled me) but there was no lack of visual stimulation. The
colorful world built by the animators delivered on all levels. The visual feast
would have been enough to dazzle me but the theme of never forgetting your
ancestors still resonates. Disney did it again… surprise, surprise.
Who will win: Coco
– Sometimes there is a colossal upset in this category where the barely seen
independent or foreign film topples the big budget or domestic frontrunner. Loving Vincent could do just that since
it can boast being the first fully painted animated film. That’s right, I said
painted. The film was shot in live action and then painstakingly painted by
hand in the style of Van Gogh. The Academy could reward this innovation but
ultimately I think Coco wins.
Hollywood will relish the opportunity to crown this cultural film in Trump’s
America. Plus, it’s a pretty moving film that could ultimately help a
generation of kids understand death a little better.
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Best Achievement in Visual Effects
·
Blade
Runner 2049 - John Nelson, Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert, Richard R. Hoover
·
Guardians
of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Jonathan
Fawkner, Daniel Sudick
·
Kong:
Skull Island - Stephen Rosenbaum, Jeff White, Scott Benza, Michael
Meinardus
·
Star
Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
- Ben Morris, Michael Mulholland, Neal Scanlan, Chris Corbould
·
War for
the Planet of the Apes - Joe Letteri, Daniel Barrett, Dan Lemmon, Joel
Whist
Who I’d vote for: War
for the Planet of the Apes – This is one of the toughest categories for
me to decide on. I’m tempted to say Blade
Runner 2049 because it should win any award with the word visual in the
title. Kong: Skull Island was
extremely realistic despite the far-fetched premise. But I have to give credit
where credit is due: War for the Planet
of the Apes delivers on a massive scale.
Who will win: War
for the Planet of the Apes - This ground-breaking trilogy
revolutionized motion capture. The previous two installments were both
nominated but ultimately lost out on Oscar night; which is pretty hard to
believe. I think the Academy rights those wrongs by rewarding this statuette to
the third and final installment. Hail Caesar!
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Best Achievement in Film Editing
·
Baby
Driver - Paul Machliss, Jonathan Amos
·
Dunkirk
- Lee Smith
·
I, Tonya
- Tatiana S. Riegel
·
The Shape
of Water - Sidney Wolinsky
·
Three
Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Jon Gregory
Who I’d vote for: Dunkirk-
Three different perspectives: one week on land, one day at sea, one
hour in the air coming together in a perfect crescendo. Christopher Nolan has
always had a fascination of playing with time in his films: Memento, Insomnia, Inception, and Interstellar. But this time he has
outdone himself.
Who will win: Dunkirk
– I think Baby Driver and The Shape of Water have a real chance
here but there has never been a film put together like Dunkirk. Lee Smith, the film’s editor, deserves to take home his 1st
Oscar on his 3rd nomination. All the other editors are first-time
nominees, so that may enhance Smith’s odds even more.
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Best Achievement in Cinematography
·
Blade
Runner 2049 - Roger Deakins
·
Darkest
Hour - Bruno Delbonnel
·
Dunkirk
- Hoyte Van Hoytema
·
Mudbound
- Rachel Morrison
·
The Shape
of Water - Dan Laustsen
Who I’d vote for: Blade
Runner 2049 – I have two favorite cinematographers of all time: Conrad
L. Hall and Roger Deakins. There is no living DP who I respect more. Deakins’
collaboration with the Coen Brothers is second to none in my humble opinion but
his work with Denis Villeneuve is slowing creeping up. No film this year was as
beautifully shot as Blade Runner 2049.
Who will win: Blade
Runner 2049 – While it would be tempting to vote for Rachel Morrison,
the first women ever nominated in this category, I believe this is the year
Deakins finally takes home his Oscar. There have been 14 nominations over the
years for the legendary cinematographer for films including Shawshank Redemption, Fargo, No Country for
Old Men, Skyfall, and Sicario.
Deakins is due and the members of the Academy are well aware of it.
Check back tomorrow for Part 4:
Acting!
